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Syllabus

This course provides an overview of ancient Egyptian history and culture from the introduction of agriculture to the Roman Empire. Political history serves as the framework, but aspects of Egyptian culture like kingship, art, religion, and interactions with other peoples will also be examined using archaeological and written evidence. Students will be evaluated based on two midterm exams, a 5-6 page term paper, and a final exam. The course aims to increase understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization, which differed significantly from modern Western societies.

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Dan Shmo
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95 views3 pages

Syllabus

This course provides an overview of ancient Egyptian history and culture from the introduction of agriculture to the Roman Empire. Political history serves as the framework, but aspects of Egyptian culture like kingship, art, religion, and interactions with other peoples will also be examined using archaeological and written evidence. Students will be evaluated based on two midterm exams, a 5-6 page term paper, and a final exam. The course aims to increase understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization, which differed significantly from modern Western societies.

Uploaded by

Dan Shmo
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HIS 204-J Egypt of the Pharaohs

M & W 6:50-8:10pm Prof. Paul Zimansky


Office: SBS Room N317 Office hours: M 5-6, W 4-5, Th 3-4 Tel. 631 632-7506 Email: [email protected]

Humanities 1003 TA: Tao Wei


Office: SBS N306 Office hours: M 2-3:30,W2-3:30 Email: [email protected]

Prospectus
This course presents an archaeologically informed overview of the history of ancient Egypt, beginning with the introduction of agriculture and concluding with the integration of Egypt into the Roman Empire. Particular attention will be given to the records of the ancient Egyptians themselves which are transmitted to us through the hieroglyphic writing systems and its derivatives. While political history forms the chronological framework of the presentation, there will be detailed consideration of various aspects of Egyptian culture such as kingship, political institutions, artistic traditions, mortuary practices, religion, historiography, and literature along the way. In the first half of the course the defining aspects of the Egyptian cultural tradition will be the primary theme, and in the second attention will shift to the interaction between Egypt and the peoples in the world around it, including the Hittites, Israelites, Assyrians, Persians, Macedonians, and Romans. Archaeological evidence will be considered in conjunction with written documents. This is a lecture course, illustrated with slides, but questions from the class will be welcomed and discussion encouraged. The course satisfies DEC Category J because it increases students understanding of history and culture of ancient Egypt, which is significantly different from the United States and Europe.

Assignments and Grading


There are two textbooks and additional, optional readings may be posted on the internet. Grading will be on the basis of two midterm exams (20% each), a term paper of 5-6 pages (20%), and a final exam (40%). Study guides will be handed out approximately one week before the midterm examinations and, for the final examination, on the day of the last lecture. The exams will include both objective (multiple choice, matching, and short answer) and essay questions. The term paper assignment will be detailed in a separate handout. It will offer a choice of ancient texts from which students will select one upon which to write a critical essay, making use of reference notes and bibliography in a standard academic format. Late papers will be accepted with the penalty of one letter grade per week after the deadline. There will be no incompletes for the course without consultation with Prof. Zimansky, and approval will only be granted for documented medical or extreme personal emergencies. Students are expected to comply with the standards of academic honesty of the College of Arts and Sciences. Incidences of plagiarism in assignments and cheating on examinations will be referred to the Academic Judiciary Committee of the College. Regular attendance of the lectures is expected, as many of the topics discussed will not be covered or are inadequately covered by the readings. It is the experience of the instructor that there is a strong correlation between students who miss classes and those who do poorly.

Americans with Disabilities Act


If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services, ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building, room128, (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations, if any, are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

HIS 204 Egypt of the Pharaohs - 2

Academic Integrity
Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/

Critical Incident Management


Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn.

Readings
The following books are to be purchased: Douglas J. Brewer and Emily Teeter. Egypt and the Egyptians. 2 nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007 Ian Shaw, ed. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004 William Kelly Simpson, ed. The Literature of Ancient Egypt. 3 rd ed. New Haven: Yale University Press: 2003

Schedule
W eek Dates 1 1/23, 25 Readings: Topic Introduction. Geographical Arena. Napoleon and Decipherment Shaw, Chapter 1 Brewer & Teeter, Chapters 1-2, 8 Archaeological Exploration & Chronology; Palaeolithic & Neolithic periods Shaw, Chapters 2-3 Brewer & Teeter, Chapter 3 Unification and Early Dynastic Period Shaw, Chapter 4 The Old Kingdom 1: Djoser and Snefru Shaw, Chapter 5 Brewer & Teeter, Chapter 6 The Old Kingdom 2: Dynasties 4-6 Simpson, pp. 129-148, 247-262, 402-417

1/30, 2/1 Readings:

2/6, 8 Readings: 2/13,15 Readings

2/20, 22 Readings:

2/27 2/29 Readings

1 st Midterm Exam, The First Intermediate Period Shaw, Chapter 6

HIS 204 Egypt of the Pharaohs - 3

Simpson, pp. 178-210, 414-417

3/5, 7 Readings:

The Middle Kingdom Shaw, Chapter 7 Simpson, pp. 25-44, 54-66, 263-277, 418-424

3/12, 14 Readings:

2 nd Intermediate Period and Hyksos Shaw, Chapter 8 Simpson, pp. 345-350

3/19, 21 Readings:

The Early Empire Shaw, Chapter 9 Simpson, pp. 351-355 Brewer & Teeter, Chapter 9 The Amarna Revolution Shaw, Chapter 10 Simpson, pp. 278-283 2 nd Midterm Exam Later Empire Shaw, Chapter 11 Simpson, pp. 307-333, 356-360 Brewer & Teeter, Chapter 7

10

3/26, 28 Readings:

11

4/9 4/11 Readings:

12

4/16, 18 Readings:

The Bronze Age Collapse and 3 rd Intermediate Period Shaw, Chapter 12 Simpson, pp. 116-124, 367-385

13

4/23, 25 4/27 Readings: 4/30, 5/2 Readings:

Saites, Persians and Macedonians Term papers due (submitted electronically by midnight) Schaw, Chapters 13-14 Roman Empire and the Waning of Tradition; Conclusions and Review Shaw, Chapter 15

14

Teusday, May 15, 5:15-7:45 pm Final Exam

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